SERVICE IN THE SUN

Summer doesn't have to mean a break from Key Club

Finals are finished. Classes are done. When that bell rings, you can feel the excitement.

School’s out for the summer.

During summer break, many Key Clubbers head to the beach, the park or even the mall. They’re having fun, of course, but they’re also providing good ol’ Key Club service.

Karissa Korf believes service shouldn’t stop when the school year does. “Summertime may be a hard time to bring your Key Club together to do projects,” she says, “but there are many service projects and activities clubs can do. The key: Summer projects should be fun, not a drag.”

Korf, a member of the University High School Key Club in Greeley, Colorado, has a lot of cred as an organizer. In her fourth year as chairman of the planning committee for the Rocky Mountain District convention, she’s no stranger to engaging Key Club members. And there are advantages to planning activities in the summer.

“The weather tends to be nicer during the summer,” Korf says, “so planning a service project or other fun activity is a tempting way to get your classmates out of the house to enjoy Mother Nature while doing good things. You’re not competing with classes and other school-related activities for their time, which is an added bonus. Key Club members are probably looking for things to do with their friends.”

Working in parks, cleaning up yards or mowing lawns for money are among some of Korf’s recommended summertime activities. She also suggests asking around your high school for ideas.

“Your school might need help to improve its look,” Korf says. “Volunteer your club to paint walls, fix things, plant flowers, pick up trash or whatever needs to be done. School budgets are tight these days, and your school will welcome the help.”

Not all activities during the summer have to be service-related. Korf suggests a barbecue or a pool party to help members stay in touch and hang out.
“Socials bring members of your club together,” she says. “That makes your club a close-knit group and sets the stage for a productive school year.”